Form only in English, Aadhar card must in E Delhi school

Governments across the country may be exhorting children to go to school but a government school in east Delhi’s Nand Nagri has opened its doors only to those children whose parents can fill the admission form in English.

According to a poster on the school’s wall, the admission form for entry classes (KG and Class 1) should be filled in English. The demand is against the rules. But this isn’t the only rule that the school is breaking.

The poster on the school’s wall also says parents have to submit proof of identification, proof of residence, an immunisation certificate and the child’s birth certificate just to get and submit a form. Photocopies of all these documents are also supposed to be attested.

Not only this, the school is specifically asking parents to submit their and their child’s Aadhar card.

According to rules, children cannot be denied admission in schools for want of certificates. If the child’s birth certificate is not available, the parents can file an affidavit that states the age.

“The parents are facing a lot of problems as the school is not accepting forms without these documents. It is irrational to expect people living in resettlement colonies to be in possession of these documents.

"Even private schools can’t ask for all these documents. Also, the condition that forms should be filled only in English is idiotic,” said Rakesh Thakur, member of Pardarshita, an NGO working in the field of education.

Delhi education director Amit Singla said he had asked the principal to look into the matter and make sure that no rules are flouted.

“According to the head of the school, the poster had been posted by some local NGOs to bring a bad name to the school. We have, nonetheless, asked the principal to make sure that all rules are obeyed,” Singla said.